Friday Roundup - Gamenight: Jackets @ Caps
by J.P. on Jan 9, 2009 6:42 AM EST
15 comments
[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]
Forty days have passed since the Caps were shutout in Columbus by Calder front-runner Steve Mason. In the interim, Washington has gone 14-3-0 and "Mase" has taken the NHL by storm, posting a 1.66 goals against average, a .941 save percentage and three shutouts in fifteen starts (and those numbers don't include that shutout of the Caps).
But Mason has only an 8-7-0 record to show for that stretch of brilliance because the Jackets simply cannot score. At all. In Mason's seven losses, Columbus has been whitewashed four times and has put just five pucks total past opposing netminders. In five of those eight wins, the Jax scored just twice, and scored three times in two other victories.
Due to injuries to their top three scorers, the Jackets' leading scorer who will play tonight is R.J. Umberger, with a whopping 20 points (he's also the only double-digit goal-scorer C'bus will have in uniform). Columbus has the worst power play in the League, firing at a putrid 10.2%, and have given up half as many shorthanded goals (nine) as they've scored on the power play (18).
But they have Steve Mason and, perhaps more importantly, Ken Hitchcock's system.
Frankly, it's disappointing to see the injuries hit, because Captain Rick Nash truly believes that this could be the year they finally make the playoffs. And it may be yet. But Hitch's boys sit in a familiar spot in the standings - on the outside looking in - and if they don't start scoring some goals to support their young stud, they're going nowhere fast.
Besides the Mason shutout back in November, there are some other storylines for tonight's game worth mentioning: former Blue Jacket Sergei Fedorov will likely return to the lineup to face his former team for the first time; the last time Columbus played in Washington was Alex Ovechkin's NHL debut (283 games, 188 goals and 361 points later, I'd say things are going well); and it's Bruce Boudreau's 54th birthday (and as a treat he gets to coach against a guy who makes him look svelte... well, almost).
The Caps have never lost at home to the Blue Jackets (2-0-1), but an easy game on paper won't be an easy game on the ice if they look past this hard-working club and it's phenom in net.
Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:
Ed Frankovic has some interesting first-half grades for the Caps players and organization. I'll say this for him - he knows the right places to blow smoke.... If the NHL handed out awards at the midway point, AO would get Wes Goldstein's Hart.... Joel Broda is the CHL Player of the Week and has been traded to Calgary (of the WHL).... Today's Cap of the Day is a former Jacket and Cap center who, fortunately for the Caps, did not have a No Movement Clause.... On this date back in 1998, Dale Hunter had three helpers and reached the 1,000 point plateau, becoming the first - and still only - player in NHL history with 1,000 points and 3,000 PIMs in a career.... Speaking of Huntsy, he and Caps prospects John Carlson and Justin Taylor got a nice late Christmas present yesterday.... Finally, join me in welcoming Caps blog "The Old NHL" to the fray. Keep your head up, boys.
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I don’t follow junior hockey enough to know this for sure, but that does seem like quite a bit to give up for Tavares. Are Dale and Mark giving up the next 4 years of drafting for a one year run?
by Sombrero Guy on Jan 9, 2009 7:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
When you factor in that the Knights got Michael Del Zotto, also an NHL first round pick, in the deal it makes more sense. But giving up four second rounders and three first rounders is definitely something that come back to bite you, especially since it’s doubtful either Tavares or Del Zotto will be back next year.
I like the CHL but I don’t follow it all that closely, so this is far from gospel, but I think since players only have 2-4 year careers title contention periods and rebuilding periods come very quickly.
by David M. Getz on Jan 9, 2009 11:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
One of a kind?
Not that it means a whole lot in the grand scheme of things, but I think it’s entirely possible that #32 will be the only member of that particular club for a long, long time.
"Where there is beer, there is hope." - me
by maruk on Jan 9, 2009 8:00 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I dunno, Della Rovere might challenge that record in a decade or so. :)
Steve Mason is scary good. Now, if Fedorov is coming back tonight, does that mean Alzner doesn’t play or do we put Poti on LTIR?
by gotsparkly on Jan 9, 2009 8:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The latter.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jan 9, 2009 8:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. There’s no one close. I mean, Chelios would need another 52 points and 123 PIMs, and I don’t think he’s getting ’em.
After that, there’s no one even close.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jan 9, 2009 8:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know, JP. It’s entirely possible that Chelios will learn to skate with a walker and earn 10 minute misconducts for yelling at those young whippersnappers to get off his ice.
"Where there is beer, there is hope." - me
by maruk on Jan 9, 2009 9:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ha. Then the 52 points are the bigger problem…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jan 9, 2009 9:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Nikita...
Looking forward to seeing Filatov tonight. He’s only 18 but he lead the World Juniors in scoring (if you take out Team Canada from the list).
by hotdog88gt on Jan 9, 2009 8:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Sloan recalled
That is all.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
by Bald Pollack on Jan 9, 2009 10:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Posted for comment here
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jan 9, 2009 10:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Dale's 1000th point
If memory serves, it was in a home win vs. Philly – one of my favorite games attended as a caps fan.
by grapejoos on Jan 9, 2009 1:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
And Berube scored it, which was fitting.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jan 9, 2009 1:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I seem to recall it was even on a breakaway (or mini-breakaway). It was at the other end of the ice from me, but suffice it to say then-MCI was going nuts.
by grapejoos on Jan 9, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 22 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 15 |
|
Atlanta
|
12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 13 |
|
Florida
|
14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 11 |
|
Carolina
|
15 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 7 |
(updated 11.7.2009 at 9:10 AM EST)
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
